Water powered turbine and turbine systems

Abstract

Disclosed herein are turbines and turbine systems that may be used to generate power and/or electricity from flowing water or may be used in various other applications such as the pumping of water. One embodiment of the disclosed turbines includes a plurality of blades that may be connected to a turbine housing by a hinge so that the blades are movable between an active state, wherein the blade is configured to contribute to the rotational movement of the turbine, and a passive state, wherein the blade is configured to minimally resist the rotation of the turbine. Turbine blades are disclosed with specific features that more efficiently capture water flow power.

1 . A water power turbine comprising:
 a housing comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the size of the housing is defined by an outer perimeter;   a shaft extending between at least the first portion and the second portion of the housing;   a plurality of blades, each of the plurality of blades comprising a first end, a second end, a leading edge, and a trailing edge; wherein the first end of each of the plurality of blades is positioned inside the outer perimeter of the housing, wherein the second end of each of the plurality of blades is positioned outside the outer perimeter of the housing, and wherein each of the plurality of blades is hingedly coupled to the housing at the leading edge of the blade;   a plurality of stops, each stop corresponding to one of the plurality of blades, wherein each stop is coupled to the housing; and   each of the plurality of blades is independently movable between an active state, wherein the trailing edge of the blade is forced against one of the plurality of stops, and a passive state, wherein the trailing edge of the blade is urged toward a position substantially co-planar with the first portion of the housing.   
     
     
         2 . A water power turbine according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of blades is hingedly coupled to the first portion of the housing, and wherein the plurality of stops is coupled to the second portion of the housing. 
     
     
         3 . A water power turbine according to  claim 1 , wherein the second end of each of the plurality of blades is scimitar-shaped. 
     
     
         4 . A water power turbine according to  claim 3 , wherein the scimitar-shaped second end of each of the plurality of blades is at an angle of about 45°. 
     
     
         5 . A water power turbine according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of blades extends outside the outer perimeter of the housing such that approximately ⅓ of the at least one of the plurality of blades is positioned inside the outer perimeter of the housing, and approximately ⅔ of the at least one of the plurality of blades is positioned outside the outer perimeter of the housing. 
     
     
         6 . A water power turbine according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of blades comprises six blades positioned at about 60° separations around the shaft. 
     
     
         7 . A water power turbine according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of blades comprises about a 90° arc of curvature between the leading edge and the trailing edge. 
     
     
         8 . A water power turbine system comprising:
 a plurality of turbines, each turbine comprising:
 a housing comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the size of the housing is defined by an outer perimeter; 
 a shaft extending between at least the first portion and the second portion of the housing; 
 a plurality of blades, each of the plurality of blades comprising a first end, a second end, a leading edge, and a trailing edge; wherein the first end of each of the plurality of blades is positioned inside the outer perimeter of the housing, wherein the second end of each of the plurality of blades is positioned outside the outer perimeter of the housing, and wherein each of the plurality of blades is hingedly coupled to the first portion of the housing at the leading edge of the blade; 
 a plurality of stops, each stop corresponding to one of the plurality of blades, wherein each stop is coupled to the second portion of the housing; and 
 each of the plurality of blades is independently movable between an active state, wherein the trailing edge of the blade is forced against one of the plurality of stops, and a passive state, wherein the trailing edge of the blade is forced upward toward the first portion of the housing. 
   
     
     
         9 . A water power turbine system according to  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of turbines are coupled together in a vertical stack. 
     
     
         10 . A water power turbine system according to  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of turbines comprises a first turbine and a second turbine, the plurality of blades of the first turbine being spaced at a predetermined interval of separation, the plurality of blades of the second turbine being spaced at the predetermined interval of separation, wherein the first turbine and second turbine are staggeredly coupled together in a vertical stack such that the plurality of blades of the first turbine are staggered in relation to the blades of the second turbine. 
     
     
         11 . A water power turbine system according to  claim 10 , wherein plurality of blades for each of the first and second turbines comprises six blades, and wherein the interval of separation is 60°. 
     
     
         12 . A water power turbine system according to  claim 11 , wherein the second turbine is staggered at 30° rotation with respect to the first turbine. 
     
     
         13 . A water power turbine system according to  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of turbines are coupled together in gang configuration. 
     
     
         14 . A water power turbine system according to  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of turbines are coupled together in a gang configuration with at least one pulley. 
     
     
         15 . A water power turbine system according to  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of turbines comprises multiple turbine stacks, wherein each turbine stack comprises a plurality of turbines coupled together in a vertical stack, and wherein the multiple turbine stacks are coupled together in a gang configuration. 
     
     
         16 . A water power turbine system comprising:
 A first turbine comprising:
 a housing comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the size of the housing is defined by an outer perimeter; 
 a shaft extending between at least the first portion and the second portion of the housing; 
 a plurality of blades, each of the plurality of blades comprising a first end, a scimitar-shaped second end, a leading edge, and a trailing edge, wherein each of the plurality of blades extends outside the outer perimeter of the housing such that approximately ⅓ of each of the plurality of blades is positioned inside the outer perimeter of the housing, and approximately ⅔ of each of the plurality of blades is positioned outside the outer perimeter of the housing, and wherein each of the plurality of blades is hingedly coupled to the first portion of the housing at the leading edge of the blade; 
 the plurality of blades further comprising about a 90° arc of curvature between the leading edge and the trailing edge; 
 a plurality of stops, each stop corresponding to one of the plurality of blades, wherein each stop is coupled to the second portion of the housing; and 
 each of the plurality of blades is independently movable between an active state, wherein the trailing edge of the blade is forced against one of the plurality of stops, and a passive state, wherein the trailing edge of the blade is forced upward toward the first portion of the housing. 
   
     
     
         17 . A water power turbine system in accordance with  claim 16 , further comprising a second turbine coupled to the first turbine in a vertical stack configuration. 
     
     
         18 . A water power turbine system in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of blades of the first turbine are spaced at a predetermined interval of separation, the second turbine comprising a plurality of blades spaced at the predetermined interval of separation, wherein the first turbine and second turbine are staggeredly coupled together in the vertical stack such that the plurality of blades of the first turbine are staggered in relation to the plurality of blades of the second turbine. 
     
     
         19 . A water power turbine system according to  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of blades of the first turbine comprises six blades, wherein the plurality of blades of the second turbine comprises six blades, and wherein the interval of separation is 60°. 
     
     
         20 . A water power turbine system according to  claim 19 , wherein the second turbine is staggered at 30° rotation with respect to the first turbine.